Prince George pub fined for selling liquor to minor

A downtown nightspot has been fined $7,000 for selling liquor to a minor.

According to a decision from the general manager of the Liquor and Cannabis Control and Licensing Branch, on the evening Oct. 5, 2023 an 18-year-old "minor agent" working on behalf of the liquor inspector was served a beer at The Black Clover Irish Pub.

The error reportedly came down to an undue reliance on technology. Typically, a doorman equipped with a scanner checks the identification of anyone who appears to be under 30 years old, but on the evening in question, he was late on arriving to start his shift which begins at 7:30 p.m.

The manager confirmed that only the doormen are trained to use the scanner.

Wearing a UNBC sweatshirt, the minor agent entered the premise at 7:32 p.m. and was sitting by her herself when served. The LCRB manager noted that minors are permitted in the establishment prior to 8 p.m. "provided that they are accompanied by an adult" and commented that the scene conflicts with management's claim that the standard of due diligence had been met.

Even if it was after 7:30 p.m., the server would have at least asked the minor if she had shown her identification to the doorman "If there was a climate of strict compliance."

The server was suspended for four weeks and had to go through a retraining program prior to being permitted to return to work.

It was the first time the establishment had been found in contravention, leaving it open to penalties at the lowest end of the scale.

At the licensees' request, the general manager agreed to issue a fine over closing the establishment for a week.